Aston Villa boss Unai Emery 'not feeling favourite' against Wolves

Hosts Villa have won 10 of their last 12 matches in all competitions while the visitors are rock bottom of the table, still searching for their first win of the season.

But Emery has reminded his players of how close Wolves came to claiming victory at Tottenham earlier in the season as he bids to guard against complacency.

He said: “I am not feeling favourite playing a Premier League match because I know if we are thinking it is easier, we are not going to play in our 100 per cent.

“We can use different moments from them and I want to remember that when Wolves played with those players, with a different coach, against Tottenham away, they deserved to win and they drew.

“This match is for me the example of how difficult the Premier League is. Wolves are at the bottom, but with the new coach they are going to be motivated and excited.”

Emery previously faced new Wolves boss Rob Edwards when the latter was in charge of Luton Town in the Premier League two seasons ago.

Villa won both of those meetings but Emery was impressed by the job Edwards did at Kenilworth Road.

“He did a fantastic job there,” he said. “He knows us (Villa) and he is now at Wolves because he deserves it.

“My respect is massive, firstly because our experiences against Wolves in the Premier League have always been difficult.

“Always, they perform very well here. It is maybe a small derby and we can feel how difficult it has been playing against every team.

“Wolves, the moment they are in, they need more points. For us, it is about keeping our consistency.”

Villa’s resurgence since failing to win any of their first six matches of the season has been based on strong home form.

Thursday night’s Europa League win over Young Boys was their seventh straight on home turf in all competitions and they have been beaten only once in front of their own supporters in 24 Premier League matches.

“Villa Park is our fortress with our supporters and hopefully we can be demanding on Sunday to keep the form we have here,” said Emery.

“To be consistent you have to be strong home and away but usually every team feels more confident at home and we are the same. 

“Firstly we are feeling strong with our supporters and feeling this is our fortress. They are transmitting energy and support and good feelings.

“Then it is how the players are responding, trying to get their best.

“We have to respect them (Wolves) but play with our personality and good form.”

Victory could see Villa finish the weekend as high as second in the table but Emery, as he has done since arriving at the club, does not believe they can be classed as “contenders” for the top-seven positions.

“It is so, so strong (the league),” he said. “Crystal Palace and Bournemouth are also fighting for the top seven and teams like Liverpool and Newcastle are not getting the points they are usually getting, but they are going to be contenders and will fight for a top seven position, clearly.”

Tyrone Mings (hamstring) is expected to remain Villa’s only injury absentee. 

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